X Factor champion Altiyan Childs has given up his music career to return to forklift driving, according to News Limited.
Childs won the second season of The X Factor in 2010 (the first on Seven) after being mentored by Ronan Keating.
Since then he has experienced highs and lows including platinum album sales and a devoted, cult-like following, contrasting with headline-grabbing controversies involving driving under the influence of drugs, trashed hotel rooms, former management facing police charges, and media attention on girlfriends.
More significantly, he parted ways with Sony Music and management last year, but he did appear on The X Factor 2011.
As yet there is no confirmation he has given up on music. Last month he released a single for free download.
Childs was awarded the X Factor win despite problems emerging during production, but he isn’t the first to win a talent quest and find that fame is a double-edged sword that requires a lot of hard work and tough choices.
It also makes life awkward for the talent show to sing its achievements in its upcoming season, presumably with the focus turning to Reece Mastin and Johnny Ruffo.
Who ?
This bloke actually had a music career? That’s news to 90% of Australia. For how long, a nanosecond?
@ steven_i…..and the credibility of anything Altiyan ever says or does is …how good?
Altiyan on his official facebook page has refuted this report.
I hope he is better at fork lift driving than singing, otherwise there could be a few nasty accidents
@Mr. J – Casey has made a great name for herself in musical theatre, she was never going to be a massive commercial success given her background, age and looks, she never got a chance. She has an incredible voice and talent and has proven herself to be a great live performer.
Altiyan on the other hand thought way too much of himself, blamed everyone but himself for his failings and has questionable talent musically, is going by his performances on X Factor that year. Forklift driving may be the best thing for him careerwise.
He has fallen into the same place as Casey Donovan, very questionable music career, yet people still talk about them and know who they are for non-singing related things. Not a great spot to be in but imo better than the Kate dearougo, Natalie gauci, Wes Carr that people have completely forgotten.
Questionable music career…
I hear is name more on the news then on the radio.
Might be a good decision – he was on a slippery slope and needed to take stock – shame, as he has a great voice and presence, but ill-prepared for fame and spotlight. Maybe he can stage a comeback down the road.
Maybe I put the inverted commas in the wrong spot in the headline?
He had a music career? :/